Ice cube tray



March 26, 1968 G. J. SALLADE 3,374,982

ICE CUBE TRAY Filed Nov. 24, 1965 v INVENTOR. GEORGE J. SALLADE CG'BM AT TOR N EYS.

United States Patent 3,374,982 ICE CUBE TRAY George Joseph Sallade, RR. 2, Box 202, Loogootee, Ind. 47553 Filed Nov. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 509,507 Claims. (Cl. 249-121) This invention relates generally to improvements in an ice cube tray, and more particularly to an improved item of this type that is odor-proof and spill-proof.

An important objective is achieved by the provision of a plurality of spaced partitions in adjacent side by side rows in an ice cube tray, the partitions of one row being spaced laterally from the partitions'of the adjacent row to provide an intervening recess, and by the provision of a lid attached to and disposed over the tray, the lid including a depending rib interfitting the recess and cooperating with the partitions to form freezing compartments.

Another important objective is attained in that each partition extends inwardly of the tray from the bottom wall and one side Wall, and that each partition is hollow, opening through the bottom wall and associated side wall, and in that the rib of the lid is hollow, opening through the lid, whereby all the walls defining the freezing compartments are exposed directly to the ambient medium.

Yet another important object is afforded by the structural arrangement in which the partitions of adjacent rows have inner margins defining the sides of the intervening recess, and in which the depending rib of the lid interfits the recess and extends closely adjacent the bottom wall of the tray and the inner margins of the partitions.

An important object is realized by the structural arrangement in which the partitions of one row are transversely aligned with, yet spaced laterally from the partitions of the other row to provide the intervening recess that is occupied by the depending lid rib upon closure of the tray by the lid for more effective insertion of the lid rib between the partitions.

Another important objective is provided by constructing the partitions of adjacent rows in the tray with opposed inner margins that are inwardly divergent from the bottom wall, the inner partition margins defining the intervening recess, and by tapering the depending lid rib to conform to and engage the inner partition margins upon placement of the lid on the tray, whereby to effect easy separation of the rib from ice cubes formed in the freezing compartment upon removal of the lid.

Still another important objective is achieved by constructing the tray so that the ice cubes are readily removable from their freezing compartments. This advantageous result is provided by constructing each partition with opposed compartment walls that taper inwardly from the bottom wall, and by constructing the tray with opposed side walls that are divergent from the bottom wall.

An important objective is attained by providing an effective sealing connection between the lid and the tray which prevents the contents of the tray from spilling'and which precludes odor from contaminating such contents. This sealing connection is provided by the provision of a peripheral groove on either the peripheral tray rim or on the underside of the associated lid, and by the provision of an interfitting and coacting peripheral tongue on theother part. A fastening means selectively interconnects the lid and tray and holds the tongue sealingly in the groove.

Another important objective is afforded by the provision and structural cooperation of the component parts comprising the fastening means interconnecting the lid and tray, whereby to provide an effective tray closure and seal. Specifically, the lid includes laterally resilient,

ice

depending flanges having inwardly extending lock abutments that snap under and against laterally projecting, lock shoulders provided on the tray rim, whereby to interconnect-the lid and tray and to hold the tongue sealingly in the groove.

Other important advantages are realized in that the lock shoulders and flange abutments have interconnecting cam surfaces holding the tongue sealingly in the groove and fastening the lid to the tray under inward pressure of the resilient flanges.

It is an important object to provide an ice cube tray that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, efiicient in operation and which can be utilized by any one with little or no instruction.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the ice cube tray with the lidpartially cut away to show the interior construction clearly;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view as seen from the left of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, it will be understood that the present device consists of a tray generally indicated at .10, and a lid referred to at 11 constituting a closure for the tray 10.

The elongate tray 10 includes a bottom wall 12, a pair of integral, opposed side walls 13 and 14 extending divergently from the bottom wall 12, and a second pair of side walls 15' and 16 constituting the ends of the tray, formed integral with and extending divergently from the bottom wall 12.

Extending laterally outward from the two pair of opposed walls 13-14 and 15-16 is a peripheral rim 17. The rim 17 includes a top face 20 and a side margin 21.

Formed integrally with and depending from the underside of bottom wall 12 are a pair of longitudinally disposed, parallel ribs 22, of substantially hemispherical cross section, on which the tray 10 seats to prevent sticking of the tray 10 in the refrigerator.

A plurality of partitions 23-28 inclusive are arranged in horizontally spaced, parallel relation, and are arranged in adjacent side-by-side rows. The corresponding partitions 23-28 of adjacent rows are transversely aligned. The partitions 23-28 of one row extend inwardly of the tray 10 from the bottom wall 12 and one side wall 13, while the partitions 23-28 of the other row extend inwardly of the tray 10 from the bottom of wall 12 and the opposite side wall 14.

It will be understood that these partitions 23-28 are hollow, opening through the bottom walls and the associated side walls 13 and 14 respectively, thereby exposing all internal wall portion-s of the partitions 23-28 to the outside, ambient air.

A small rectangular notch 29 is provided in each bottom rib 22 at each partition 23-28 to facilitate molding inserts (not shown) used to form such partitions 23-28.

The partitions 23-28 of adjacent rows have opposed, inner margins 30 that are laterally spaced todefine a longitudinal, intermediate recess 31. Specifically, the innerpartition margins 30 of adjacent rows are inwardly divergent from the bottom wall 12 for reasons which will later appear upon more detailed description of parts. This intermediate recess 31 extends longitudinally the length of the tray 10 between the tray walls 15 and 16.

The lid 11 includes an elongate, closure panel32 of;

sufiicient size to cover the top opening provided by tray 10. Formed integrally with and depending from the center of the lid panel 32 is a longitudinal rib 33. The rib 33 is tapered to conform to and engage the inner margins 30 of the partitions 2328 when inserted into the intermediate recess 31 upon closure of the tray by the lid 11. The rib 33 is of sufiicient depth so that its extremity 34 lies closely adjacent to the bottom wall 12 of tray 10. When the lid rib 33 is interfitted in the recess 31, the rib 33 cooperates with the partitions 23-28 of adjacent rows to form separate freezing compartments.

As is best seen in FIG. 4, the lid rib 33 is hollow, opening through the panel 32 to expose the tapered walls defining the rib 33 directly to the ambient air. It will be importantly noted that all of the walls defining the freezing compartment are relatively thin and are exposed directly to the ambient air, thereby providing a faster freezing action on the water contained in the compartments.

A sealing connection is provided between the tray 10 and the lid 11 to prevent the contents of the tray 10 from spilling and to prevent outside odotjs from contaminating the tray contents. This sealing connection includes a peripheral groove 35 formed in the top face of the tray rim 17. Disposed and interfitted in the groove 35 is a compatible and coacting peripheral tongue 36 formed integrally with and depending from the underside of the closure panel 32 of lid 11. The groove 35 is slightly smaller than the coacting tongue 36 so as to provide a seal between the tongue 36 and rim 17 when the tongue 36 is pressed into the groove 35 against the rim 17.

A fastening means is provided to interconnect the lid 11 to the tray 10 selectively. This fastening means includes laterally projecting, lock shoulders 37 on the peripheral side margin 21 of rim 17. Preferably, the lock shoulders 37 are rounded to form a cam surface.

The lid 11 is provided with integral and depending, opposed side flanges 40, and with corresponding, opposed end flanges 41. The flanges 40 and 41 are laterally resil ient, tending to assume an inwardly inclined position. Each of these depending flanges 40 and 41 have an inwardly extending lock abutment 42 adapted to fit under and engage a cooperating lock shoulder 37 provided on the tray rim 17. The lock abutments 42 are rounded to form cam surfaces coacting with and engaging under pres sure the compatible cam surfaces formed by the lock shoulders 37.

The lid 11 is placed over the tray 10 with the lock abutments 42 sitting on the lock shoulders 37. As the lid 11 is pressed on the tray, the coacting cam surfaces of the lock shoulders 37 and lock abutments 42 cause the lid flanges 40 and 41 to spread outwardly against the resilient force of such flanges 40 and 41. When the lid is fully closed, the resiliency of the lid flanges 40 and 41 causes the lock abutments 42 to snap under and against the lock shoulders 37, thereby interconnecting the lid 11 and tray 10 and holding the peripheral tongue 36 sealingly in the peripheral groove 35 under pressure exerted by the resilient flanges 40 and 41.

Extending horizontally outwardly from one of the end flanges 41 is an integral handle 43 adapted to be gripped to lift the lid 11 from the tray 10. Upon exerting a lifting force to the handle 43, the interengagement of the rounded cam surfaces of the lock abutments 42 on flanges 40. and 41 and the lock shoulders 37 on the tray rim 17 causes the side and end flanges 40 and 41 to spread outwardly until operatively disconnected.

The side and end flanges 40 and 41 of lid 11 are relieved at the corners to prevent any stretching or tearing action of the lid material as the flanges are resiliently flexed laterally incident to attachment and detachment of the lid 11 to the tray 10.

It is thought that the functional advantages of the ice cube tray have become fully apparent from the foregoing detailed description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure, the usage of the tray will be briefly described. It will be assumed that initially the tray 10 is empty and that the lid 11 is detached.

First, the tray 10 is filled with water to a level below and within /4 inch of the top of partitions 23-28. In addition to filling the freezing compartments, the intervening recess 31 is filled also to the same level.

Then, the lid 11 is placed over the top of tray 10 with the lock abutments 42 of the lid flanges 40-41 seating on the lock shoulders 37 formed on the tray rim 17. The lid 11 is pressed on the tray 10, causing the interengagement of the camming surfaces of the rounded lock shoulders 37 and lock abutments 42 to spread the lid flanges 40-41 against their resilient loading, and thereby allowing the lid to be moved to a fully closed position. When the lid 11 is fully closed, the resilient characteristic of the lid flanges 40-41 causes the lock abutments 42 of such flanges to bear against and under the lock shoulders 37, thereby holding the lid 11 under pressure on the tray 10 and urging the lid tongue 36 tightly against the top rim face 20 in sealing relation under pressure while located in the cooperating peripheral groove 35.

It will be noted that the centers of the radii of rounded lock abutments 42 on the lid flanges 40-41 are located slightly below the centers of the radii of the rounded lock shoulders 37 on tray 10, when the lid is attached. When the tray 10 is closed by the lid 11, the lid flanges 40-41 are still slightly spread so that the resilient loading of such flanges 4041 urges the associated lock abutment 42 against the lock shoulders 37 under pressure. This interengagement of the rounded camming surfaces tends to press the lid tongue 36 sealingly into the cooperating peripheral groove 35 and against the top face 20 of rim 17.

As the lid 11 is placed over the tray 10, incident to attachment, the lid rib 33 moves into the intermediate recess 31 and displaces the water in such recess 31 later ally in to the adjacent rows of freezing compartments. This displacement action of the lid rib 33 causes the level of water to rise in the freezing compartments, yet such level, is maintained below the upper edges of partitions 2328. When the lid 11 is attached to the tray 10, as described previously, the lid rib 33 lies closely adjacent to or engages the inner margins 30 of partitions 2348, and lies closely adjacent to or engages that portion of the bottom wall 12 of the tray 10 defining the intermediate recess 31. It will be understood that the water is now contained in the separate freezing compartments.

Because all of these walls defining the freezing compartment are relatively thin and full exposed directly to the cold temperature of the ambient air in a refrigerator, the water is quickly frozen into ice cubes.

To remove the ice cubes in a dry state for storage, the flat closure panel 32 of the lid 11 is slapped against a counter top. The large radii at all corners within the tray 10, the taper of the opposite walls of the partitions 23-28, the divergent inclination of the tray walls 13- 16, and the taper of the dividing lid rib 33, all cooperate to enable quick and easy release of the ice cubes. These cubes will stay in the tray 10 because the lid 11 is still attached. Then, the tray 10 is turned right side up, and the lid 11 is removed by pulling the handle 43.

If the ice cubes are desired to be used immediately, warm water is flowed briefly over the tray 10, and the lid 11 removed as previously described. Importantly, the ice cubes will be released and will stay in their individual freezing compartments for easy access, and will not fall into the sink or on the floor as is often the case with present day trays. The present design enables easier release of the ice cubes without loss.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an ice cube tray:

(a) a tray including a plurality of spaced partitions arrange-d in adjacent side by side rows,

(b) the partitions of one row being spaced laterally from the partitions of the adjacent row to provide an intervening recess, and

(c) a lid attached to and disposed over the tray,

(d) the lid including a depending rib interfitting the recess and co-operating with the partitions to form freezing compartments.

2. An ice cube tray as defined in claim 1, in which,

(e) the tray includes a bottom wall and opposed side walls,

(f) each partition extends inwardly of the tray from the bottom wall and one side wall, and

(g) each partition is hollow, opening through the bottom wall and associated side wall, and the rib is hollow, opening through the lid, whereby thin walls define the compartments and are exposed directly to the ambient medium.

3. An ice cube tray as defined in claim 1, in which:

(e) the tray includes a bottom wall and opposed side walls,

(f) each partition extends inwardly from the bottom wall and extends inwardly from the associated side wall,

(g) the partitions of one row are transversely aligned with, yet spaced laterally from the partitions of the other row to provide the intervening recess, and

(h) the rib on the lid interfits the recess and engages the partitions to form the freezing compartments.

4. An ice cube tray as defined in claim 1, in which:

(e) the tray includes a bottom wall and opposed side walls,

(f) each partition extends inwardly from the bottom wall,

(g) the partitions of adjacent rows have opposed, inner margins inwardly divergent from the bottom wal to provide the intervening recess, and

(h) the rib of the lid is tapered to conform to and lie closely adjacent the inner margins of the partitions when inserted into the recess.

5. An ice cube tray as defined in claim 4, in which:

(i) each partition has opposed compartment walls inwardly tapered from the bottom wall, and

(j) the opposed side walls of the tray are divergent from the bottom wall.

6. An ice cube tray as defined in claim 1, in which:

(e) the tray includes a bottom wall and opposed side walls,

(f) each partition extends inwardly of the tray from the bottom wall and one side wall,

(g) the partitions of adjacent rows have inner margins defining the sides of the intervening recess, and

(h) the rib of the lid interfits the recess and extends closely adjacent the bottom wall and the inner margins of the partitions.

7. An ice cube tray as defined in claim 1, in which:

(e) the tray includes a bottom wall and opposed walls,

(f) each partition extends inwardly from the bottom wall and extends inwardly from the associated side wall,

side

(g) the partitions of one row are transversely aligned with, yet spaced laterally from the partitions of the other row, to provide the intervening recess,

(h) the partitions of adjacent rows have opposed, inner margins inwardly divergent from the bottom wall,

(i) each partition has opposed compartment walls inwardly tapered from the bottom wall,

(j) the opposed side walls of the tray are divergent from the bottom wall,

(k) the rib of the lid is tapered to conform to and en gage the inner margins of the partitions to form the freezing compartments, and

(I) each partition is hollow, opening through the bottom wall and associated side wall, and the rib is hollow, opening through the lid, whereby thin walls define the freezing compartments and are exposed directly to the ambient medium.

8. An ice cube tray as defined in claim 1, in which:

(e) the tray includes a peripheral rim,

(f) a sealing connection between the lid and rim includes a peripheral groove on one and an interfitting peripheral tongue on the other, and

(g) fastening means selectively interconnects the lid and tray and holds the tongue sealingly in the groove.

9. An ice cube tray as defined in claim 1, in which:

(e) the tray includes a peripheral rim,

(f) a sealing connection between the lid and rim includes a peripheral groove on one and an interfitting peripheral tongue on the other,

(g) the rim includes laterally projecting and opposed lock shoulders and,

(h) the lid includes laterally resilient, depending flanges having inwardly extending lock abutments selectively snapped under and against the lock shoulders by the resilient flanges to interconnect the lid and tray and to hold the tongue sealing in the groove.

10. An ice cube tray as defined in claim 1, in which:

(e) the tray includes a peripheral rim extending laterally outward, the rim having a top face and a lateral margin,

(f) the top face of the rim is provided with a peripheral groove,

(g) the lid includes a depending, peripheral tongue interfitting the groove and engaging the rim sealingly,

(h) the rim margin includes laterally projecting and opposed lock shoulders,

(i) the lid includes opposed and depending, laterally resilient flanges having inwardly projecting abutments snapped under and against the lock shoulders, and flange abutments have interengaging cam surfaces holding the tongue sealingly in the groove and fastening the lid to the tray under pressure of the resilient flanges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,407,614 2/ 1922 Wicks 249-127 X 1,873,508 8/ 1932 Tanger 249-121 2,503,306 4/1950 Storer 249-121 X 2,588,222 3/1952 Ekkebuset a1 249-127 X 2,613,512 10/1952 Gaugler 249-121 2,804,755 9/ 1957 Ansel 249-121 3,120,112 2/1964 Davis 249-127 X 3,122,898 3/1964 Kniffin 249-127 J. HOWARD FLINT,.JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN ICE CUBE TRAY: (A) A TRAY INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED PARTITIONS ARRANGED IN ADJACENT SIDE BY SIDE ROWS, (B) THE PARTITIONS OF ONE ROW BEING SPACED LATERALLY FROM THE PARTITIONS OF THE ADJACENT ROW TO PROVIDE AN INTERVENING RECESS, AND (C) A LID ATTACHED TO AND DISPOSED OVER THE TRAY, (D) THE LID INCLUDING A DEPENDING RIB INTERFITTING THE RECESS AND CO-OPERATING WITH THE PARTITIONS TO FORM FREEZING COMPARTMENTS. 